PREACH IT AGAIN!
©ERIC ROGERS,PH.D. CHURCHWITHOUTWALLSCHICAGO.COM 2016
PREACH IT AGAIN! JEREMIAH 36:23-24
In the Old Testament Book or Prophecy of Jeremiah, the 36 Chapter, the 23 and the 23-24 and the 28 verses…..
Preface:
These strange….these spiritual…these sacred…these sanctified words are recorded……..
23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
27Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hat
Introduction
The God of Heaven and Earth….Creator of the Universe and Our Eternal and Everlasting Father is still in the blessing business.
God is still speaking to man through the ages and across the tracks of time.
He is doing it live and in color through His eternal and everlasting word and
Every now and then He steps down through the pages of history and
Every now and then He steps down across the sands of time to intervene into the affairs of men.
He has proclaimed his Word to a dying world. And His word will stand and last forever.
The Psalmist reminded you and I that
“God has been our dwelling place in all generations.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. ( KJV Psalm 90)
The Psalmist said.. thou word have I hid in my hear that I may not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11 KJV)
The word is that It is appointed unto man once to die and then cometh the judgement. (Heb 9:27 KJV)
The word is that we need to be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10 KJV)
The word is that God is our refuge and a very present help in the time of need. (Psalm 46:1 KJV)
And Revelation recorded…. In the end when it is all over…
When we have run the last mile of the race…had our last supper…prayed our last prayer and done all that our little hands and little minds can do down here
We are saved by the word of our testimony and the Blood of Lamb.
And I don’t know how you feel about it…but
It would do us good if we would every now and then just stop, look, and listen to the Word of God.
I wish I had some help up in here today because.
The Word God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Oh the world may change. People may change. The wind may blow, the rain may fall, the storms may rage and every dog has its day
But the Word God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
It is infallible….. without error.. It is incredible….awesome and amazing. It is invincible. It is eternal and everlasting …forever and ever.
It tells me who I am, what I am, how I am and what I shall become.
It tell me who I am and whose I am and that I am not my own but I have been bought with a price.
And I don’t mind telling you today that:
The record is according to God that to everything there is a season..a time and purpose under heaven. There is a time be born a time to die. A time to laugh and a time to cry.
The Word of God says that the wiser we grow, the sadder we become.
That our eyes are never satisfied and our hearing is never content and
Nobody remembers the past and the future is not ours to see.
That we come into the world naked and naked we shall return dust to dust earth to earth our spirit unto God.
Can I get a witness here this morning?
And I’m a witness that the Word of God is sharper than any two edge sword
Oh it will cut you. It will calm you. It will clean you. It will cleanse you. It will convict you.. It will change you. It will cover you. It will cheer you. It will correct you. And yes, it will condemn you.
I’m a witness that the Word of God is able to go forth and not return void
And death and life are in the power of the tongue.
I’m just trying to tell you today that it would do us good to hear and to hearken and to humble ourselves to and with and under the Word of God.
Can I preach a while ? Can I preach this thing?
Historical Background and Context:
The Prophecy of Jeremiah
When you and I look back at history and where we have come from and what we have come through and how God has brought all of us from a mighty long way.
We are reminded that God proclaimed His word through the Prophet Jeremiah when he said:
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9).
Jeremiah preached from about 628 BC to 586 BC (about 2600 years ago) in Jerusalem. During that time, Babylon took control of Jerusalem. Babylon began taking Jews as captives to Babylon as early as 605 BC and 597 BC.
Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Jeremiah prophesied that the Jews would be scattered from their homeland and persecuted.
Jeremiah also said that God would protect the Jews from total destruction and that they would one day return to their homeland
He was the son of Hilkiah who prophesized during reign of Josiah, and continued through the reigns of Jehoiakin, and Zedekiah.
The Babylonian Empire had taken control of Jerusalem. The Babylonians took Jews as captives to Babylon. Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Jeremiah lived through the invasions by the Babylonian armies, the deportations of his people, the slaughter of Jews living in Jerusalem, and the destruction of the Temple.
Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem that they would be punished harshly for their sins. He pleaded with the people to turn away from sin and to turn back to God, but to little avail. In return, Jeremiah was targeted with scorn and persecution.
And just like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, He warned people through the Word…..don’t play with God. And that God is not mocked.
And it was years later that Nehemiah, a servant who had been taken captive kand became a servant of a foreign king who longed to be back home to rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem And rode in the midnight hour into the wee hours of the morning surveying the land to decide and determine how to rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem.
And when the enemies tried to kill him and tried to get him to come down off the wall:
Nehemiah said.. I’m not coming down off the wall. I’m doing a good thing for the Lord. And the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Can I get some help up in here? I’m just talking about the Word of God.
His prophecy reveals that the Word of God will and shall stand forever…….
The Word of God brought peace, protection, provisions, power and prosperity.
And I don’t mind telling you today that as I look back at my life, I can testify that in some of my darkest hours….only the Word of God could bring me peace.
It seems like no matter how long we live…. In every life some rain must fall.
And I’m a witness that there are some good day and some bad days
There have been some hills to climb. Some mountains to face . Some rivers to cross and even some valleys to go through.
There have been times when I have laid awake at night wondering what the next day would bring but when I heard a word from the Lord, I was able to keep on keeping on.
In my some of my most difficult days….In my most troubling moments.
In times when I couldn’t see my way out of things.
I couldn’t keep my head above water and I couldn’t see a silver lining in the cloud.
There was and there is a part of me that has learned to just pray, and stand on God’s word alone.
In times when I didn’t know what to do, which way to go, how things were going to work out or even If I was going to make it, I found that all I needed was a word from the Lord.
I found out all I need was to just have a little talk with Jesus and everything would be alright.
In a world filled with sickness, suffering, sorrow and shame.
In a country filled with chaos and contentions and confrontations.
In houses and homes all across the land, many of us need to be reminded of the Word of God
And I’m a witness that the Word of God is sharper than any two edge sword
I’m a witness that the Word of God is able to go forth and not return void
And even when I don’t what to say or do, I know this one thing that God is able.
I believe with all my heart the God I serve is able …He is able to do exceedingly abundant above all that I could ever think, want or ask
Can I preach this thing?
Oh, let me tell you today, I had to stand when I didn’t feel like standing anymore
I’ve had to push on and press on and pray on and praise on even when I didn’t feel like going on
Can I get some help up in here?
Oh, I have cried and moaned and groaned and wailed and worried and all it took was a Word from the Lord and I had hope again.
And I stopped by to tell you that there is a record of people who have come before us who found out that the Word of God will stand forever.
There is a record that the Word of God is a sword to fight your battles.
There is a record that the Word of God is water when you get thirsty, food when you get hungry, rest when you get weary, a healing when you are hurting and a strength and peace in the time of need.
And I don’t know how you feel about it but I’m glad that the Word of God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I’m glad that with the Word of God wrapped up inside me, I can walk by faith and not by sight.
I’m cant get over the fact the Psalmist said that every now and then we need to hear it and know that the Lord is our strength, our song and our salvation.
I’m crazy about the fact that the only the Word God can tell me, teach me and, train me and tame me to realize and recognize that:
When the world has lost it’s mind;
When family and friends forsake me;
When folk on the job act like fool and
When folk who are kin me, hate me, hurt me and use me and try to pull me down, push over and press and stress me out
I’m glad that the Psalmist said……. Wait minute… .
When everything is falling apart ; When nothing is making sense; When I’m hurting and hating and need healing and helping. I just need to do this one thing:
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve th Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
And there are times in our lives when the road gets rough and the road gets rocky but the Word from the Lord is…
Be still and know that I am God.
Preach Rogers.. Preach that again !
David cried out when enemies surround him and folk tried to kill him, I called on the Lord and got an answer.
When my enemies came to me from the east and the west and the north and the south, they came at me one way but the Lord sent back out seven different ways. Can I preach that again?
Job lost 10 children and buried them all on the same day and yet I heard him cry out:
The Lord is my Redeemer and my Righteous Judge and Even though he slay me yet will I serve Him. And he shall stand upon the earth in the ladder day.
Job said….it .again: the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job said…..I came into the world naked and naked I shall return. Earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes, my spirit unto God.
Amos preached again…..Don’t worry about all these people who are lying and cheating and stealing and killing and doing all kind of wrong. Don’t you worry because:
One day… I said one day… I said one day…Justice will roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Can I preach this thing ? Can I get some help in the building ? In a moment, I’m going to preach that again.
Oh I just stopped by today to inform you, inspire you and instruct you that I don’t care how you slice it, how you serve it or how you sell it…..The Word of God is more than just a Book.
It is a mold to shape us. A magnet to attract us.
It is a fire to warm us. A fence to contain us.
It is a testimony to delight us and a law to instruct us.
The Word of God has to be preached over and over again!
The Word of God must be preached over and over again !
The Word of God shall be preached over and over again!
Because it is…what it is!
It is sight to the blind.
It is water to the thirst.
It is a cupboard that never runs bare.
It is a river that never runs dry.
It is motor that will never run hot.
It is a tree that will never lose it shades.
It is a fire that will never burn out.
It is an alarm to wake you up in the morning and to start you on your way.
It’s a curfew to bring you off of the streeths life when things get dark and dangerous.
It’s a traffic light to tell you when to go, when to stop, when to turn and when to yield.
It’s a time bomb slowly ticking away the seconds of your life.
It’s a hammer to nail down your worries.
It’s a screw driver to tighten up your faith.
It’s a chainsaw to cut away sin ans sorrow, sickeness, suffereing and shame.
Oh, it needs to be …it must be…It shall be preached again. It has to be preached again and again!
Can I get some help up in here ?
The Old Testament is filled with an outstanding record of Godly men and women who have risen up to serve the Lord and proclaim his word.
There is an illustrious history of good kings and bad kings that arose and reigned to rule and even reign against Isarel, the children of God.
The bible has recorded that there was King named Josiah, the boy King, who came to power and rose to reign at the tender age of only 8 years old.
It is recorded that the Word of God was found among the rubble on scrolls and when it was read to King Josiah, he demanded, dictated, and directed that things have to change.
For he brought reform, repentance and revival to and for the people of God in the kingdom.
It is recorded that he was a good king.
Josiah was killed in battle fighting another man’s war and
The Prophet Jeremiah loved and respected Josiah. For he was indeed a good King. A king who was determined and dedicated to serve the Living God.
When Josiah died…it grieved the Prophet Jeremiah so much that he wrote the Book of Lamentations..lamenting….mourning…grieving his loss.
Jehoiakim was the Son of Josiah. Unlike his daddy, he was by all accounts a no good king.
He was arrogant…had an attitude… and filled with aggression.
He was trifling…testy….and totally wicked.
He became everything that he was low down, ornery and disgraceful.
And the people of God turned to their wicked ways. Their worldly ways.
And I don’t know how you feel about it but all of us in the church today…families at homes. marriages, relationships…many people.on the job and throughout the neighborhoods….we all stand in need of hearing the Word of God preached again.
It needs to be preached again because
We have lost our respect for our elders………..
We are living in a day and time when everything that use to be right ….is now wrong.
We are living in a day and time when everything that use to be wrong…is now right.
Children are divorcing parents and abusing their mommas and daddys.
Generation X and Generation Y and Millennials folk born between 1980 until the present:
The 13
th generation born on American soil. The most informed generation but also the most immature, insecure, reckless and irresponsible generation.
A generation addicted to immediate gratification and short term gain for long term panic.
A generation addicted to cell phones, computers, technology, social media, ATM debit cards, credit cards and a sense of entitlement.
A generation that will grow up with more spouses in their lifetime than children.
A generation that feels entitled and won’t leave out of the homr. A generation that wont grow up. Wont get up and get it moving.
And babies are having babies…..Teachers are having sex with students.
We are wrapped up in love and hip hop… We are tied up in scandals and empires all in the name of sex, lies, and videotapes and anybody can get away with murder.
And the world has lost it’s mind.
We are living the last days…..where people have become heady, high minded, traitors….Lovers of themselves
Are you with me on this this morning? I think I’ll preach awhile.
And we stand in need of the Word of God being preached again and again.
We need to hear the Word of God preached again because not only have we lost our respect for our elders…..
We have lost our responsibilities for relationships and
When I was growing up in the 1970’s , I remember they came out with a R/B Soul Song called “Expressed Yourself” that when something like this
“It’s not what you doing when you are doing what you are doing.
Its what doing when you are doing what you look like doing…. express yourself.”
Can I get some help up in here.
And I don’t care how you slice it
And I don’t care how you serve, sautee it..or serenade it……
The word of God shall stand forever.
Look around the world today….and all you will see is that people are hurting.
And the only thing that will heal a broken heart is the Word of God.
Look around the world today….and all you will see is war and no peace.. no rest for the weary….nation against nation…..
And the only thing that will bring peace is the Word of God.
The Lord said…If my people which are called by my name would just humble themselves, repent and seek my face… I will forgive them of their sins and heal the land.
I’m just talking about the Word of God being preached again and again.
I’m almost through…..
Look around the world today..and all you will see…..is confusion…confrontation…congestion…cohabitation and conflict from the White House to the Senate and the House and now your house.
And the world stands in need of the Word of God.
Can I preach this thing here ?
The Prophet Jeremiah has come to town and all is not well on this side of Heaven.
And it came to pass……Jehoiakim was king of Judah from 608 to 598 BCE. He was the eldest son of king Josiah, the Good King, who had already been killed in battle).
After Josiah's death, Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) was proclaimed king, but after three months pharaoh Necho II deposed him, making Eliakim king in his place. When placed on the throne, his name was changed to "Jehoiakim".[1]
Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years, until 598 BCE[2] and was succeeded by his son Jeconiah, (also known as Jehoiachin), who reigned for only three months.
And you must realize that Jehoiakim is a puppet King and He is not a real King. He is just somebody the King Necho of Egypt put in place and treated him like clown.
Oh He wears the crown but had no character.
Oh He has a title but he is also trifling.
Oh He is in charge but somebody is really in charge of him and
Oh He is both pretentious, pompous, a pretender, pathetic and a puppet.
You must recognize that even in spite of that He was a bad king, a no good king, a low down ornery King who ruled Judah after
Saul and David,and Solomon and Rehoboam and Jehosphaphat, and Josiah\
And he was a bad king.[3]
And again, I remind you that Jehoiakim was appointed king by Necho II, king of Egypt, in 608 BCE, after Necho's return from the battle in Haran, three months after he had killed King Josiah at Megiddo.
[4] Necho deposed Jeoiakim's younger brother and threw him out of the way.
Jehoiakim ruled originally as a vassal of the Egyptians, paying a heavy tribute. To
raise the money he "taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments."[5]
However, after the Egyptians were defeated by the Babylonians in battle,
Jehoiakim was seen in history as a godless, unholy, low down and ornery king who committed atrocious sins and crimes.
Incest in his family with his own mother, daughter-in-law, and stepmother, and was in the habit of murdering men, whose wives he then violated and whose property he seized. He also had tattooed his body.[1]
Jeremiah criticized the king's policies, insisting on repentance and strict adherence to the law.[6] Another prophet, Uriah ben Shemaiah, proclaimed a similar message and Jehoiakim ordered his execution.[7]
Jehoiakim was Josiah's second son and the first king installed by an external world power,
Jehoiakim was 25 years old and his first act as king of Judah was to lay the financial burden on his people to pay the Pharaoh.
Jehoiakim did much evil in the sight of the Lord, like so many others who had preceded him.
God sent the prophets Urijah and Jeremiah to confront Jehoiakim for his sins and to warn him. Both prophets prophesied against Jerusalem and Judah, but when Jehoiakim and his leadership heard Urijah's words, the king planned to have him executed.
Urijah heard about it, and escaped to Egypt. Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt, and they brought Urijah back from Egypt to face Jehoiakim, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. (Jeremiah 26:20-23)
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came to Judah and Jehoiakim was taken as a captive in chains to Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar also took vessels from the temple of the Lord and had them placed in the treasure house of his god in Babylon. It was at this time that Daniel also and his three companions were taken captive to Babylon (Daniel 1:1, 2).
Nebuchadnezzar returned Jehoiakim to Jerusalem and his throne, but treated him as a subordinate.
Not long after, Jeremiah had Baruch read his prophecies in the court of the temple.
Hearing of this, Jeroiakim had them also read in the royal palace in his presence. He took the scroll from Baruch, cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire.
When Jeremiah heard about this, God told him to write another scroll, with some additional words, foretelling Jehoiakim's grisly death.
After three years of subjection to Babylon, Jehoiakim attempted to make Judah independent. Nebuchadnezzar sent raiding bands of Chaldeans, Syrians and Ammonites to punish this rebellion. Jehoiakim's own people apparently killed him, and threw his body over the wall to satisfy Babylon, fulfilling the words that Jeremiah had prophesied. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity. He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.”
And I don’t know how you feel about it, but all of us in the church today…families at homes. Marriages, relationships….on the job and throughout the neighborhoods….we are stand in need of hearing the Word of God preached again.
We need to hear the Word of God preached again because not only have we lost our respect for our elders…..
We have lost our responsibilities for relationships and
When I was growing up in the 1970’s , I remember they came out with a R/B Soul Song called “Expressed Yourself” that when something like this
“Its not what you doing when you are doing what you are doing.
I”ts what doing when you are doing what you look like doing express yourself.
Can I get some help up in here..
And I don’t care how you slice it
And I don’t care how you serve, sautee it..or serenade it……
The word of God shall stand forever.
Look around the world today….and all you will see is that people are hurting.
And the only that will heal a broken heart is the Word of God.
Look around the world today….and all you will see war…no peace.. no rest for weary….nation against nation…..
And the only thing that will bring peace is the Word of God.
The Lord said…If my people which are called by my name would just humble themselves, repent and seek my face… I will forgive them of their sins and heal the land.
I’m just talking about the Word of God being preached again.
Look around the world today and all you will see…..is confusion…confrontation…congestion…cohabitation and conflict from the White House to your house
And the world stands in need of the Word of God.
Can I preach this thing here ?
Historical Background: (The Prophecy of Jeremiah)-
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. 3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.”
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
And I stopped by to tell you that like so many of us…….
He didn’t want to deal with the Purpose of the Word
But I stopped by to tell you that all of us ought to be sick and tired of playing games because
We are living e in a SeeSaw Society……with Somersault Philosphy and a Jellyfish Morality….
We need to read and hear and do the Word of God.
Because we live in an age where by we know more about bombs and bullets than we do about the Bible
We live in an age where we practice more politics and propheteering than we do praying and praising God
We need to preach the Word.
We’ve switched from thus sayeth the Lord to thus sayeth man
We need the Word! We need to understand the Purpose of the Word.
And if that it isnt bad enough… you have to admit that when we look around and see that scientifically the Earth is round but the World is upside down and we are all messed up.
We don’t care who we hurt, what we say, how we do it and how we live our lives.
Everything is all about you and nobody is caring and loving somebody else.
We are so messed up….You can’t tell us anything.
We are racially polarized, domestically divided and family dramatized,
parentally lazy and politically rooked while at the same time politically correct,
athletically out of shape,musically out of tune,geographically beyond reach, socially separated and sexually suggestive.
We have become psychologically paranoid , spiritually apostate and astray and alienated.
We are morally low,biologically lifeless and spiritually dead and separated from the Spirit of God.
We need to preach the Word.
We need Word of God to find life and life more abundantly.
Jehoiakim cuts up the Word instead realizing the Purpose of The Word
And if you only knew The Purpose of the Word
The Word has been ambushed behind college classrooms.
The Word has been abused by some even from behind the pulpit.
Archaeologist have tried to dig up and then turn around and bury it.
Physicists are mad because they cant fix it up.
Evolutionists want to change it up.
Philosophers still can’t comprehend it.
Psychologists don’t understand it and Sociologists still wrestle with it.
And it’s been around long enough to euologize the very folk who have opposed it.
I’m just talking about the preached word !
It is an unusual word and an amazing word.
It’s so amazing that every time you read and receive it…it changes lives.
The Word of God tells us of the life that now is and the life that shall soon be…..eternal and everlasting..
It is wrapped up in 66 Books to be precise and they are all wrapped up inside of one Major Book (39 in the old testament/27in the new testament Tangled up in Gospels …no…. really 5
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the Book of Acts
One Book of History….the Book of Acts
14 Pauline Epistles or Letters to the Church with Instructions on how to live right, act right, do right and still be right
7 General Letters : Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, II Peter, I John, II John and 3rd John and Jude
And only 1 Book of Prophecy- Revelation
Can I get a witness ?
Its so awesome that it got at least 1, 189 Chapters; 31, 214 Verses, 776, 480 Letters and at least 3 ,566,480 letters in total.
This Word contains the Mind of God.
The State of Man, The Way of Salvation, The Doom of Sinners.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions you can’t change.
But you still have to:
Read it to be Wise.
Believe it to be safe and practice it to be Holy because
It contains light to direct you and food to feed you and courage to comfort and cheer you.
It’s a traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the christian’s charter.
Can I get a witness ?
This Word even tells you the 3 stages that mankind…you and I were in ….before we were born, while we are living and after we die.
Generation and Degeneration and then Regeneration.
Maybe you don’t understand me….Somebody here today needs to know this is how we know that we were in:
Rebellion……Reconstruction and Revisions
Because you see…I don’t care how you read or see it…
The fact of the matter is that
The World formed us! Sin deformed us! Prison reformed us! School informed us!
But only Jesus, the Son of the Living God, its grand subject can Transform Us ! Can I get a witness ?
The Old Testament centered around Moses but
The New Testament centered around Jesus.
In the Old Testament God used Moses and turned water into blood.
In the New Testament God used Jesus and turned water into wine.
In the Old Testament Moses hung out on Mt. Sinai but
In the New Testament Jesus was hung on Mt. Calvary.
The Old Testament deals with the law.. which was our schoolmaster to bring us right before God but
The New Testament deals with grace…which makes us right in the eyes and sight of God.
The Old Testament….concealed Him ….but the New Testament revealed Him.
In the Old Testament…Jesus was a Shadow but
In the New Testament...Jesus is the Shepherd.
The Old Testament….prophesized but
The New Testament…presented.
The Old Testament….promised but the New Testament produced.
The Old Testament made a lot of promises but
The New Testament made a lot of progress.
The Old Testament centered around the foundation but
The New Testament centered around the cornerstone.
Do I have any help in this house ?
In the Old Testament….the Sheep died for Shepherd but
In the New Testament…the Shepherd died for the Sheep.
And so I’m glad and I’m so grateful that I can tell somebody:
What was the Real Purpose for this word ?
Well, I’m glad you asked…..because you see
If you remember nothing else….
You need to remember that God’s whole purpose for His Word was Introduce Himself to Us, for us and with us through His Son Jesus Christ.
And you see….. Regardless of how smart you think you are and how educated you have become:
I stopped by to tell you that you wouldn’t know who you are neither whose you are had it not been for the Word .
You and I wouldn’t know what to do…how to do ..when to do neither what to do nor who to do it with in this world… except mess up and stay messed up.
Can I get a Witness ?
Without the Word…you wouldn’t know the Will of God, the Way of God.
Without the Word…you wouldn’t know the Work of God and.
Without the Word…you wouldn’t know the Worth of God.
Without the Word…you wouldn’t even know how to Witness for God.
Can I get a witness ?
The Purpose of the Word is that you may know Him because he already knew you before you could ever know Him.
And in the beginning was the Word and the Word with God and the Word was God the same was in the beginning
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And not anything that was made was made without Him.
He came from all the way from having favor to having fury.
He came from all the way from majesty to misery.
He came from having praises to having pain for you and me.
He came down for us, to us, with us and in us.
He came down in order for us to come up.
He became poor for us in order for us to become rich.
He became disgraced in order for us to have amazing grace.
And for this …you and I ought to want to know Him.
And praise His holy name
Jehoiakim to a pen knife and cut of the Word of God and threw in the fire totally disregarding
II.And not only is their a Purpose of the Word, if you only knew The People Who Needed the Word
And I don’t know about you but when the Saints go marching in.
I want to be in that number…..listed among the People of God.
And the People of the Book are the Chosen.
This book is not about everybody but its about those of us who have been chosen.
This book is about the generations from Abraham to Christ…the chosen generation.
And from Christ on until He returns is the Church.
I’m looking at how you and I are a chosen generation.
I’m looking at how we are a royal priesthood
I’m looking at how we are a peculiar people
(so peculiar, so precious, so powerful and so positioned by God)
That we required to shew the praises of God who has called us out of the darkness into the marvelous light.
He chose me because I didn’t have sense enough to choose him.
Can I get a witness ?
He picked on me and then picked me out and placed me in the race of life to be his people on his prophetic and praiseworthy team!
I didn’t win every race …I didn’t run every race with patience like I should have but I did and I will……I have to finish my course.
Because….because…there is a bright crown waiting for me.
Can I get a witness ?
He chose us…….and that means
I didn’t know how bad I was.
I didn’t know I bad and bloodied and broken I could get.
I didn’t know what time it was.
I didn’t know how to live in a world that was and is wicked and wasted and wanting.
I didn’t know the shape I was in.
I didn’t know I low down, how honory and how crooked, and crafty and crossed and cliquish I could get until I met Him.
No wonder Isaiah said…Woe, I am undone.
And I got news for you church…
Everybody up in here ……is undone.
Everybody up in here…….isn’t worthy to be chosen.
Oh praise His Holy name that He chose us and He chases us and He calls us and He catches us and He cleans us and then He cleanses us and finally He was crucified for us!
Can I get a witness ?
And Psalm 100 says:
“Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves.
We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful unto Him and Bless His Holy Name
For the Lord is good. His mercy is still everlasting and
His truth still endureth to all generations.”
Can I get a witness ?
There is a Purpose to the Book and there are People in the Book but there is also
Jehoiakim took a pen knife and cut up the Word of God and threw in the fire….
Not accepting the
III.The Power of the Word
And I don’t about you but I’m glad no weapon formed against me shall prosper
And what shall separate me from the love of God
All because there is power in the Word of God
There is loving power.
Healing power Giving power Forgiving power Fighting Power Praying Power
Praising Power Loving Power Rebuking Power Redeeming Power
And church…….I have discovered that God is so good that even when you don’t know you are his people and you don’t know that you need to depend on his power.
God will create a need in your life that you will come to know that it is in Him that you live, move and have your being.
God will show you and shape you and swipe you.
God will move away your little toys from you.
God will take away some of your posessions: houses, homes, cars, jobs and money in order for you to know.
God will move away and take away some things you thought you needed and you thought wanted:
Shopping sprees, credit cards, weaves, and liquor and drug s and gambling boats and casinos and people in your family and your friends you hang out with.
In order for you to know that it’s His power…through His blood and His word that will sustain you. Can I get a witness ?
I know some of you stayed up all night long and cried and pouted because you don’t have what you use to have.
I know some of you are still bitter because you thought things would get better by now.
I know some of you are more broken and more blessed now than you ever were before.
You don’t know that there is power in the Name of Jesus.
You don’t know that there is power in the joy that the Lord gives and not as the world giveth and taketh away.
You don’t know that there is power in the Word of God until you get sick, shut down and shut up and then you have to go looking from a word from the Lord.
But sooner or later…you come to your senses and the first thing you want to say after God has beat you and whipped you and worked on you.
The first thing you want to say is…
Father I stretch my hand to thee, no other help I know
If thou withdraw thou hand from me wither shall I go.
The first thing you got say and you wont shut up about it is
Had it not been for the Lord ? Where would I be now?
The first thing you got to tell everybody is
The Lord sure is good and let me tell you what he has done for me.
Can I get a witness ?
You don’t really know the power of God’s Word until
a financial storm hits your house and your home and you are drowning in a sea of bills and debts;
You don’t really know the power of God’s Word until;
a family burden bears you down…and you got children you cant do nothing with….you got brothers and sisters you cant stand.
You don’t really know the power of God to change situations and folk in our lives until;
a pink slip shows up on your desk at work or they stop your paycheck.
4. You don’t really know the power of God until your car brakes down or they turn
off your lights, your phone, your gas bill and your water
And cant anybody help you but God.
You don’t know the power of God ..until you have stressed you self out and you have messed it all up and you have done all that you can do and you still can’t fix. and you still cant work it out and the only thing left for you to do is just stand stand! Stand and see the Salvation of the Lord !
But the word of God says..…..
God will work it out
If you look in the Word……..the bible says that there is peace that surpasses all understanding
If you look in the Word…….the bible says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life ! Can I get a witness?
If you look in the Word …..the bible says…He will never leave you nor forsake you.
If you need a friend…He will be that friend.
If you need someone to talk to…He will listen.
If you need someon to hold you..He will hold you in the midnight hour.
If Father and Mother forsake you..He will pick you up.
If your enemies attack…He will fight your battles with His power!
And there ought to be somebody here today that can tell somebody sitting next to you that the Lord will provide.
I don’t understand folk…as good as God is and as good as God has een and will be
He’s got power to heal the sick.
He’s got power to wipe away all your tears.
He’s got power to ease a trouble mind.
He’s got power to mend a broken heart.
He’s got power to raise the dead.
He’s got power to rebuke the devourer.
He’s got power to make a way out of no way.
He’s got to work a miracle.
He’s got power to give you joy ..joy that the world didn’t give and the world cant take away.
He’s got power to give you peace…..peace that surpasses all understanding.
There is power in the name of Jesus...
Somebody ought to be able to tell somebody that the Lord has power…the Lord can change things….the Lord changed me.
And even if he didn’t change me…He gave strength and power to run this race.
He gave me strength and power to deal with my situation.
Folk on my job, my children, my spouse, my finances, my health.
He gave me power to overcome.
He gave me power to do battle.
He gave me something that nobody else could give me.
He gave power through peace of mind.
Can I get a witness?
Help me out now church:
You didn’t know if you could make it.
You didn’t know how you were going to make ends meet.
But God….put a new song in my heart.
But God….stepped in while I stepped out.
But God….stood up and allowed me to sit down and rest a while.
But God….was my power…my peace and my prince.
And God is more than just God…
God is my power. God is my peace. God is my everything.
He doesn’t just hold the door….He is the door.
He doesn’t just feed me………..He is my food.
He doesn’t just heal me………..He is my healer.
He doesn’t just help me………..He is my help.
He doesn’t just make a way……He is the way,the truth and the life.
Do I have a witness ?
And for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
And oh what awesome power…..He is and He has because:
He’s my Rock in a weary land.
He’s my Shelter in the storm.
He’s my Water when I get thirsty.
When you look in the Book…you will discover that
God knew our every need.
When you look in the Book…you will discover that
He knew when we would mess up and how we would mess up and how many times we would mess up.
But when you Look in the Book…..
He still tells me I am his own.
He still tells me He loves me and He died for me.
He puts Goodness on one side and Mercy on the other Side
God is in front of me.
Jesus is beside me and the Holy Ghost is inside of me.
And I got power to live in this world!
Jehoiakim took a pen knife and cut up the word of God and threw it in the fire……..disregarding the Person in the Word
IV. I just want to know The Person in the Word
Every book has a story and every story has a subject and every subject has a purpose.
It was written about Him.
It was written by Him.
It was written for Him. It was written of Him.
It was written through Him.
It was written with Him that we might know Him and for whom it is written and His name is Jesus. .
And there is no other name under heaven by which men shall be saved than the name of Jesus. Can I get a witness?
He’s that Voice of Creation in Genesis.
Exodus
The Passover Lamb
Leviticus
The High Priest
Numbers
The Cloud and The Fire
Deuteronomy
The Prophet Like Moses
Joshua
The Captain of Our Salvation
Judges
The Judge And Lawgiver
Ruth
The Kinsman Redeemer
1 & 2 Samuel
The Prophet of The Lord
1 & 2 Kings
The Reigning King
1 & 2 Chronicles
The Sovereign God Intercessor/High Priest
Ezra
The Faithful Scribe
Nehemiah
The Rebuilder of the Walls
Esther
Mordecai
Job
The Dayspring From on High
Psalms
The Lord Who Is Our Shepherd
Proverbs & Ecclesiastes
The Wisdom of God
Song of Solomon
The Lover & Bridegroom
Isaiah
The Suffering Servant
Jeremiah & Lamentations
The Weeping Prophet
Ezekiel
The Son of Man
Daniel
The Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven
Hosea
The Bridegroom
Joel
The Baptizer With The Holy Spirit
Amos
The Burden Bearer
Obadiah
The Mighty Savior
Jonah
The Forgiving God
Micah
The Messenger With Beautiful Feet
Nahum
The Avenger of God's Elect
Habakkuk
The Great Evangelist, Crying For Revival
Zephaniah
The Restorer of the Remnant
Haggai
The Cleansing Fountain
Zechariah
The Pierced Son
Malachi
The Son of Righteousness
New Testament Book
Main Revelation
Matthew
The Messiah
Mark
The Miracle Worker
Luke
The Son of Man
John
The Son of God
Acts
The Ascended Lord
Romans
The Justifier
1 & 2 Corinthians
The Last Adam
Galatians
The One Who Sets Us Free
Ephesians
The Christ of Riches
Philippians
The God Who Meets Our Every Need
Colossians
The Fullness of The Godhead
1 & 2 Thessalonians
The Soon Coming King
1 & 2 Timothy
The Mediator Between God And Man
Titus
The Blessed Hope
Philemon
The Friend, Closer Than a Brother
Hebrews
The Blood That Washes Away My Sins
James
The Great Physician
1 & 2 Peter
The Chief Shepherd
1 & 2 & 3 John
Everlasting Love
Jude
The God our Saviour
Revelation
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
In Revelation…He is the Groom who is coming back to get his bride,the Church.
All I want you to do ….is to let the fingers of your heart go walking through the pages of the Book.
Let you fingers…..do the walking……. And you will discover that this man Jesus:
He was wounded our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities.
He was chastized for our peace.
And by His stripes we are healed.
He made his grave with the wicked and the rich in his death.
He was silent like a sheep before it shearers and a lamb before the slaughter.
He opened not his mouth.
He was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.
He was smitten of God, stricken and afflicted for you and for me.
He’s so God…He’s so Good…He’s so Great…He’s so Gracious.
That He gave us…Promises through His Word ………..
King Jehoiakim got mad at what he heard and what was read.
King Jehoiakim got upset and lost his mind and instead of copying the Word of God, He cut up the Word of God.
And just like Jehoiakim…some of us are messed up and jacked up because we too have cut out the Word of God.
We don’t want to hear it.
We don’t want to obey it.
We don’t want to submit to it.
We don’t want to live by it.
And when everything falls apart. When everything hits the fan. When everything and everyone disappoint us and discourage us.
We got the nerve to call on the Lord when God never left you nor forsake you in the first place.
We have cut out the word of God in everything we say and do.
No prayer in school. No family devotion at home. No bible study in the middle of the week.
No daily reading. No teaching our children.
We have cut the word of God out in homes, schools, Congress, social media, t.v., neighborhoods and communities.
And not only have we cut it out and cut it down and cut it off and cut it away.
Just like Jehoiakim, some of us have thrown it away… Some of us have burned it in the fireplace of our heart.
We have no intention of reading the Word of God.
We have no intention of remembering the Word of God.
We have no intention of repenting with the Word of God.
We have no intention of relaying the Word of God to our children and our children’s children.
We burned it every time we cuss.
We burn it up every time we fight.
We burn it up every time we drink and smoke and get high.
We burn it up every time we run around lying, cheating, stealing, whoremongering around.
We burn it up every time we gossip and run other folk down.
We burn it up every time we disobey it and detour from it.
Can I get some help up in here?
The bible says… God was concerned about His people and commanded that His word be read that they might repent.
And when the Word was read before the people many of them trembled and others ran and told the King
And in the Winter month, King Jehoaikim sat in his winter apartment by the fire and when the Word of God was read……
He took a penknife and cut it…..and then threw it in the fire…… burning of the Word of God….
But I stopped by to tell you that you can cut it, you can burn it down and you can throw it away but the Word of God will stand forever
The Word of God is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89; And God say Heaven and Earth may pass way but my word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35)
Well, like so many of us, when the Word of God was read, Jehoiakim didn’t like what he heard.
And instead of copying the Word of God and calling on the Word of God and commanding people to obey the Word of God.
He took a pen knife, cut it up and threw in the fire.
And Jehoiakim didn’t realize it but when he cut it… He cut himself out of the eternal and everlasting Book of Life.
And Jehoiakim didn’t realize it, but when he burned it up… He burned himself in hell in a lake of fire.
The enemy came back…..and His own people… beat him up…beat him down and threw over the wall into the streets as prophesized by God.
And what a mighty God we serve. What a mighty God we serve who sits high and looks low.
What a mighty God we serve who will not be mocked.
The Lord ordered Jeremiah to record it all over it again… Go back and write it all over again.
In other words, Jeremiah………….Preach it again!
What you want me to preach ? …Preach it again!
The Word of God……
And can you hear Jeremiah saying......
What if they don’t want to hear it ? Preach it again!
What if they don’t read it? Preach it again!
What if they don’t receive it? Preach it again!
What if they don’t like it? Preach it again!
What if they don’t want to obey it? Preach it again!
What if they don’t listen? Preach it again!
What if they don’t follow it? Preach it again!
Conclusion:
Preach It Again! What do you want me to preach ? Preach it again!
I’ve got preach it in season and out of season.
I’ve got to preach it again.
Preach it again….It’s In Him that people live, move and have their being.
Preach it again…If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Preach it again I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Preach it again ….My God shall supply all of your needs in glory in Christ Jesus
Preach it again They that wait upon the Lord Shall renew their strength; we shall mount up with wings as eagles and run and not get weary.
We shall walk and not faint.
Can I get a witness ?
Preach it again Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest
Preach it again….God is able to do exceedingly abundant everything we could ever ask, think or want.
Preach it again…All things work together for good, to them that the love the Lord, who are the called according to His purpose.
Preach it again…The God we serve never sleeps nor slumbers.
Preach it again… He sits high and He looks low
Preach it again….He moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.
Preach it again…….Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
And one day …we all fly way.
Preach it again…….If you be lifted up you will draw all men unto him.
Preach it again…….God is worthy to be praised From the rising of the sun to the closing down of the same He’s worthy to be praised.
Preach it again…..Walk by Faith and not by sight.
Preach it again…..I was young but now I’m old but never have I seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.
Preach it again… They that call upon the Lord shall be saved.
Preach it again…..Ask and it shall be given, Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened.
Preach it again…..I’ve got to preach it again………
That we are troubled on every side but not in distress.
We are perplexed but not in despair.
We are cast down but not destroyed.
Always abounding the body the dying of Lord Jesus Christ.
And light our affliction is but for a moment but it worketh for us a greater eternal weight in glory.
And we look not at the things which are seen fore they are temporary.
But we look at things which are not seen for they are eternal
Preach it again! Preach it again!
Preach:
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Preach it again…. His word is like fire shut in my bones.
I;ve got to preach it again because the place called earth is not my home, but I’m pilgrim passing through in the land of the dying on my way to the land of the living.
And to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Preach it again.
Preach that the Word of God will lay you down in the green pastures of understanding.
It lead you besides the still waters. It will restore your soul.
And over 200o years ago, He was born between animals, hung between thieves, raised above angels.
They whipped him up a hill.
They hung him high, they swung him low, they stretched him wide, they pierced in the side.
He never said a mumbling word, Just hung his head and died.
They buried in a borrowed tomb, He stayed on Friday, He stayed all day Saturday
But early early early early early early on the 3rd day morning.
He got up! He got up ! He got up ! Never to die again! With all power in his
hand.
And He’s coming back again….. He’s coming back again………
Preach it again ….Stepping down from heaven….
One foot on land …another foot on sea….
One day the trumpet will sound, there will be a great shout.
We are going to be caught up caught up caught up saved to sin no more.
And we know…we know if this earthly tabernacle be destroyed.
We have another building not made by hands, eternal in the havens.
And to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Preach it again ! Preach it again ! Preach it again!
1. He’s the Rock of Ages……….
2. He’s My Rock My Sword and My Shield
3.He’s A Wheel in the Middle of A Wheel
4. He’s the Rose of Sharon …..
5. He’s the Bright and Morning Star
6. He’s the Lilly of the Valley
7.He’s the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
8.He’s the Light of the World
9.He’s Stem of Jesse
10.He’s the Root of David
11.He’s the Prince of Peace
12.He’s the Bishop of My Soul
13.He’s My Redeemer
14.He’s My Righteous Judge
15.He’s the Holy One of Isarel
16.He’s Chief Cornerstone
17.He’s the Son of Mary
18.He’s the Son of David
19.He’s the Son of Man
20.He’s the Son of the Living God
21.He’s Water When I get Hungry
22.He’s A Rock in the Weary Land
23.He’s A Shelter in the Storm
24.He’s A Father when Father is gone
He’s a Mother when Mother is gone
He’s the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever
He’s the Bread of Life
He’s the Resurrection and the Life
He’s the Way,the Truth and the Life
He’s the King of Kings;He’s the Lord of Lords
He’s Alpha and Omega;He’s My Beginning and My End
He’s The First and the Last
His Name is Jesus…..Jesus…..Jesus….Jesus…Jesus…Jesus
The Son of Joseph
A Wonderful Counselor
Jehovah Jireh-(Provider)
Jehovah Shalom-(Peace)
Great Head of the Church
Jehovah-Nissi(Banner)
Jehovah-Elohim
Jehovah-El Shaddi
Author and Finisher of My Faith
Immanuel
The Servant of Jehovah
King of the Jews
Perfect Man
I Am that I Am
The Second Adam
My Refuge
.My Shepherd I shall not want
Preach it again!
One day it will all be over………………………
One day the Sun will refuse to shine
One day the Moon will drip away in blood
Time that was once was will be no more
Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess He is the Lord thy God
The Bear will be gentle, the Wolf will be tamed
The Wolf and Lamb will lay down and feed together
The wicked will cease from their troubles and the weary will finally be at rest
The Host in White will travel both day and night coming up from every nation on the way to the great coronation
Two will be grinding in the mill, one will be taken, the other will be left
Two will be standing in the field, one will be taken, the other will be left
Two will be sleeping in the grave, one will be taken, the other will be left
Two will be walking down the street, one will be taken, the other will be left
And God shall…God shall. ….God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
No more pain, no sorrow, no more crying no more dying
No more No more No more No more No more No more
Preach it again! Preach it again!
